I've posted on this wine before but it continues to impress and give me pleasure beyond its price. Originally offered at $12.99 and purchased on sale for $7.99, this has got to be one of my "best buys" of 2008.

From Heredad de Baroja in Elvillar de Alava, Spain.
It made an excellent pairing the other night with a baked chicken/artichoke/celery/onion ring dish even though artichokes can be a difficult match. Pale gold color. Tropical fruits with white peach and lemon curd on the nose. Maybe its a changeling but in my first note I mentioned baked apple and another taster got pineapple and melon. Pineapple may be closer than baked apple. This time I got almost a lemon meringue and vanilla note on the palate. Tastes rich and fruity and lingers for a nice finish. Not flabby--as Brappy posted when I brought a bottle to Baltimore, it has some serious acidity on the finish.

Would love for you to join us Engineer and also Drew if we could lure him. Maybe James and Jeannette Roscoe can join us again.

Nonconforming would be other than Australian wines. I will probably bring the Thorpe Shiraz and a Dog Ridge Shiraz that Brappy says he hasn't tried yet but then a couple other wines--maybe a white, maybe an Italian red or a dessert wine. Brappy is supposed to bring an Elderton Command if he still has it. (I like the Elderton wine I've tried but haven't had a chance to sample the Command.)

Jane, I just checked the cellar. I have multiple bottles of Elderton. Only 1 Command Shiraz - '02 which I would be happy to bring. I'll also bring an Elderton 'Ode to Loraine'. I'll keep everything I bring from Australia. I WILL make it interesting.

Would really love to come and appreciate all the invites in the past but Eileen and I would be two stick in the muds as would have to spit all night. Couldn't risk all that sampling and driving the distance so, long time ago, we forgo any imbibing or one volunteers to be the designated. Our employ demand perfection in this arena.